It’s Thursday! Today, caught in the spotlight, is The Shadows of Wren by Jen Bliton! The cover is stunning, and this is book one(#1) in what is to be “The Light in the Shadow series.“
Let’s read more!
The Shadows of Wren (The Light in the Shadows)
Publication Date: August 30, 2023
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Features
⦁ Ancient Magic ⦁ Mythical Creatures ⦁ Friends to Lovers/ Insta Love ⦁ Large Scale Battles ⦁ Trauma Healing ⦁ Mental Health Rep
May the Valiant Prevail. After decades of peace within the lands of Caldumn ruled by the Red Kingdom, the southern towns have come under attack. Their libraries burned and ancient texts stolen by an ominous force. An unlikely alliance between two magic kinds is formed when Wren, a nineteen-year-old Mage, finds herself in the middle of a conflict that will take her outside of the peaceful life she's known. Along her journey, she meets Tyran, whose Necromancer magic is not widely trusted, and learns they share a deeper ancient magic that has long since disappeared. Together with the help of all magic kinds, they must unite the towns to save their lands, and themselves, while the threat of the Red Kingdom looms.
Jennifer lives in Southern California with her husband, a tiny human, and five cats.
Coming from a background in Content Creation, she and her husband livestream gaming content on Twitch and gaming content on YouTube, where you can find her playing World of Warcraft and Diablo IV. She loves being out in her garden and tries her best to grow various fruits and veggies throughout the year among any flowers, bulbs, or roots she can get her hands on.
Drawn in by the beauty of this cover caught in the spotlight today is A Moonrise in the Fire by Tessia Ives. Dive into a steamy romantic fantasy adventure that sweeps you into an enchanting world of vast fjords, wild forests, elemental powers, and one woman searching for her destiny.
A Moonrise in the Fire: A New Adult Romantasy (An Element of Fire, Book 1)
Publication Date: February 2024
Genre: NA Romantasy/ Spicy
Features ✨ Star-crossed lovers ✨ Forced proximity ✨ Hidden identity, Secrets ✨ Witty banter ✨ Reluctant (& hilarious) companions on a quest ✨ Fated soulmates ✨Relatable FMC
How many realms would you cross to save your true love? All humans possess an element – except for Talvi. Born without magic and dedicated to being the keeper of Starstone Temple, an ancient monastery in her small forest town, she’s plunged into a world-changing struggle when a mysterious and powerful guest arrives on her doorstep. Caelan ignites a dangerous fire in her heart... but he guards a secret that could destroy them both. After Talvi’s childhood love is abducted by a terrifying threat from a doomed world, Caelan is the only one who can help her. Alongside her two best friends, Talvi must unravel the long-lost secrets of Starstone – and embark on a dangerous quest that will transport her to unknown realms. Four elements. Three realms. Two lovers. And one impossible choice. Hunted by deadly enemies and unable to contain the desire burning between them, Talvi struggles not to fall for the enigmatic fire elemental. His wickedly beautiful smile. His courageous passion. The seductive amber flames of his eyes. Can she decide where her loyalty – and her heart – truly lie? Or will embracing her destiny force her to pay a devastating price? She was born powerless. Now the fate of the realms rests in her hands.
A Moonrise in the Fire is a stunning love story that spans multiple realms, While book one in the “An Element of Fire Series,” Monrise in the Fire, can be read as a standalone. A gripping read perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah J. Maas, and Holly Black.
On Saturdays, award-winning novelist Tessia is often found daydreaming about the plot of her next book, eating mint malt balls, riding horses, and wishing she had a pet owl. She’s less whimsical the rest of the week, when she is hard at work writing heart-stopping adventures that blend accessible fantasy with burn-the-world-down-for-you romance—stories she would want to read, and hopes you will too!
Tessia lives in California with her husband and various furred and feathered beasts. She holds two degrees from Stanford University not at all related to writing.
Being I adore fairy tale retellings it is no surprise this book is in my spotlight today. The Musician and the Monster is a gothic romantasy fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast tossed in with a hint of Phantom of the Opera. Set in a gaslamp fantasy world with strong gothic vibes. Read on!
The Musician and the Monster: A Gothic Beauty and the Beast Retelling (The Castamar Duology Book 1)
Expected Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Genre: Gothic Romantic Fantasy
Featuring 💖 Forbidden love ☑️ Morally grey MMC ⚔️ Determined heroine 🎶 Music is powerful 🔥 Slow burn to steamy ❄️ Wintertime 🥀 Gothic vibes ❤️🩹 Hurt/comfort 🗡️ Touch her and 💀 ✨ Magic 🎭 Masquerade Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you. Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne. Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he can’t afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night? At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystan’s unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isn’t their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.
Megan Van Dyke is an award-winning fantasy romance author with a love for all things magical and romantic, especially fairytales and anything with a happily ever after. Many of her stories include themes of family (whether born into or found) and a sense of home and belonging, which are important aspects of her life as well. When not writing, Megan loves to cook, play video games, explore the great outdoors, and spend time with her family. Megan currently lives with her family in Florida.
This Thursday’s Book Spotlight is the enticingA Sword of Shadow and Deceit by Lucinda Dark. If you enjoy dark fantasy romance, enemies-to-lovers, and a good anti-hero, this book is a must-read!
A Sword of Shadow and Deceit (Mortal Gods #1)
Publication Date: March 21, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance/ Why Choose
Features 🖤Dark Fantasy Romance 🗡️Assassin FMC ☠️Anti-Hero 🚫Forbidden Existence ❤️Enemies-to-Lovers 🔥Why Choose
Desperation makes warriors of captives. The Gods split the skies and rained down tyranny upon the mortal realm long ago. Ever since then, the only thing worse than being human is being of Divine Blood.For someone like me—an undocumented God child, indebted to the Underworld Assassination Guild—that means only one thing: A life in the shadows. Or so it should have been … until Mortal Gods Academy. Until them. The Darkhaven Brothers are truly the worst of all the Gods’ spawn. Arrogant. Wicked. Violent. To them, I’m nothing more than a human plaything meant for torment. For me … they’re the path and the key to my freedom. But if any of them find out who I am, what I am … even the shadows won’t be able to save me. *Contains dark with themes of a dark nature that may be triggering. Please check trigger warnings and read responsibly*
Lucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi. When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
After featuring Book 1, Curse of the Crow, last Thursday, since it is now April 8th, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to join the celebration showcasing the release of the last book in The Wicked Kingdom Series. Behold The Curse of the Fallen by Abby Fox.
The Curse of the Fallen: A Soulmate Romance (The Wicked Kingdom Book 3)
Publication Date: April 7, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Features
Hidden Identities Slow Burn Delicious Angst Morally Gray Fae MMC Burn the World for Each Other One Bed Powerful but Awkward FMC Denied Soul Mates
A lost prince. A powerful heiress. A destructive secret. Fleeing the castle’s gilded prison and on the run from the king, Nava and Arkimedes are confronted by a sinister shadow-figure, who looks like Arkimedes and who wants Nava dead. He vows to end the Beekeepers and bring destruction into the world. Forced into hiding in the only place their enemies can’t reach them, the Society of Crows Safehouse, Nava and Arkimedes must find a way to prevent their enemy from unleashing demons into this realm. But stopping him seems impossible, and with the king’s guards on their tail, will they manage it? Or will their love, their lives, and even the entire world be destroyed?
Curse of the Fallen is adark, action-packed, sexy, fated mates fantasy romance for fans of ACOTAR.
With the release of the final book in this series coming up on April 8th. We are spotlighting where it all began. Book 1The Curse of the Crow.
The Curse of The Crow: A Soulmate Romance (The Wicked Kingdom Book 1)
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Features
*Hidden Identities *Slow Burn *Delicious Angst *Morally Gray Fae MMC *Burn the World for Each Other *One Bed *Powerful but Awkward FMC *Denied Soul Mates
Destined to love each other. Determined to fight their fate. Nava Forrest stumbled upon her soulmate when she was young. A brief meeting with a hooded stranger forever bound her to a wicked man she wanted nothing to do with. Running from his dark power, her parents escaped to the non-magical town of Willowbrook to keep her safe. Now that they are gone, her life raising her younger brother and selling potions to wary townsfolk has been quiet... and magic-free.
When the Society of Crows finds Nava, intent on imprisoning her, it forces her to flee to the forest, searching for the only person she was told can protect her. Arkimedes is not what she expects, and her attraction to him is unnerving. As the chemistry between them grows, so does her power. But the secrets he keeps threatens to tear her world apart. With the Society closing in, it forces them to put aside their differences and fight to escape their oppressors. But will they escape destiny?
The Curse of the Crow is the first book in a trilogy, based on the Wicked Kingdom verse.
Action-packed, sexy, and perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and C.N. Crawford.
A modern Greek myth retelling and fantasy romance Strifre’s Apple by Shoshana Rain is a full-length, medium-burn, standalone fantasy romance with a guaranteed HEA. It contains steamy scenes and is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers romance. Read on!
Strife's Apple: A Modern Greek Mythology Fantasy Romance (The New Olympus Book 1)
Genre: Fantasy Romance/ Greek Mythology
Features 🏛️Enemies-to-lovers ❤️Grumpy/sunshine (she's grumpy) 🏛️Locked her in Tartarus (isn't sorry) ❤️Hate everyone but you (and maybe you too) 🏛️We Need to f*ck this out ❤️Anti-heroine 🏛️Has to save everyone. Doesn't want to
Apollo: As the God of Prophecy, it’s my duty to keep my fellow gods safe. And to do that, I need Eris. Which means retrieving the Goddess of Discord from the pits of Tartarus—where I left her, seven hundred years ago. The now-freed goddess may think she can beat me, but I intend to tame her wildness before she destroys us all. I’ll do anything to save my family, including seducing her. And I'll love every second of it. I’ll have the little goddess on her back, hands, knees, any and every way I can get her. No matter what, I'll bring her to heel.
Eris: For seven hundred years, they kept me chained in darkness. For seven hundred years, I never saw sunlight, never knew joy, never spoke to another mortal—or god. Until Apollo came, and with the wave of one imperious hand, freed me. I know he needs my help. The gods are fading, and only I can save them. Too bad I have no interest in anything beyond revenge. Especially against him.
A lover of mythology, sexy romances, and heroines who give as good as they get, Shoshana knew she wanted to write fantasy romance since reading Kushiel’s Dart. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with her cat and trying to keep her garden alive in the harsh desert summer.
Alathea knows she’s the only one who can stand between her vengeful mother, Bex, and all-out war with the magic realms. But to confront her mother, Alathea will have to return home with Lidja, the high sorceress whose disdain for her has only sharpened—and the one person she would prefer to never see again.
Lidja can’t find a peaceful spot far enough from Alathea in her home realm. But when Bex escalates her threats to deadly heights, Lidja knows she’ll have to assess this new enemy herself. For such a delicate mission, she’ll have to work in harmony with Alathea, the mule-headed almost-ruler who refuses to cooperate, no matter how adjacent her sharp axe comes to Alathea’s throat.
To stop the oncoming war, Alathea and Lidja might have to consider the worst option of all: a fake betrothal that proves the magic realms are no threat and creates a magic tie between them. But when magic blurs the line between love and hate, will either be strong enough to resist…or will the fake betrothal make fools of them both?
Bound by Promises & Lies is the second book in the Realms of Magic Young Adult fantasy series with a slow-burn sapphic romance, heart-pounding adventure, and big twists. If you liked Throne of Glass or A Curse So Dark & Lovely, you’ll love this fast-paced story by Sienna Archer.
Publication Date: February 19, 2024 Genre: YA Fantasy Romance/ LGBTQ2+ *Fake fiancé *Slow-burn Sapphic romance *Touch her and die *Plot twists *Family drama *Wish-granting sea faeries *Complex characters *Second in a series *YA Romantasy
Review
Meant to read the first book (Bound by Scars and Secrets) before I read this second installment am reviewing I accidentally picked up Bound by Promises & Lies first and started reading none the wiser. I was a couple of chapters in when I realized this was book 2, not book 1. I winced because I am a stickler for reading in order, but it was too late. I was already invested in Sienna Archer’s world and characters. I had to see Alathea and Lidja journey through till the end!
I must say Lidja has to be my official favorite female character in a book of all time. I have never had one until now either. She resonated with me written perfectly real – strong-ass-willed, yet vulnerable weak, and unapologetically herself. Her conversations with whomever she comes in contact with are entertainingly priceless.
Bound by Promises & Lies is an engrossing read you’ll forget this is a YA fantasy. It also works well as a stand-alone almost since I didn’t read the first book and was not that lost.
Archer writes with a warm welcome tone that instantly draws you in. I felt instantly welcomed into her world and instantly fell in love with her characters (and this is book 2 remind you!) That says something about a writer’s writing prowess.
While sure there were some points in the story that might have made more sense if I read book 1 first it was minuscule. Plus it only acted as an enticement for me to go back and read book 1 to get the whole story. Bound by Promises & Lies ends on a bit of a cliffhanger too so I am excited to see what Archer has next in the realms of magic world.
My overall rating 5 out of 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
About the Author
Sienna Archer believes romance should be epic, adventures magical, and the best characters are the ones who grow. She writes books featuring diverse characters and strong female leads that make readers laugh, shout, and cry.
Learn more about Sienna and her books at Sienna Archer
Currently, on a book tour with RR Book Tours, this book deserves a spotlight, just by the title alone. Let’s sink our teeth into A House of Fangs and Deceit by Alex Frost.
A House of Fangs & Deceit: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Lunaria Realms Book 1)
Publication Date: January 23, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance/ Why Choose
The fae are gone and the monsters reign.
Lunaria was always a land full of nightmares. But when the fae vanished without a trace, we had to make sacrifices to survive.
From the ashes, the Moroi Houses rose.
As the Heir to one of the most influential Houses, I’ve always known that an arranged marriage would be part of my future. One where I ruled alongside my husband as we fought to strengthen the crumbling alliances of our people.
When I’m betrayed by my husband and his House, however, I return home to an uncertain future—and to both my childhood crush and my arch-nemesis. Kieran is even more gorgeous and clever-tongued than I remember, while Alaric is frustrating... and hotter than he has any right to be. And then there’s the taciturn librarian and their magical ropes…
Navigating politics has always come easily to me, but I don’t know how to deal with my complicated desires or whom I can trust. Because the blood wards that have kept our realm safe for over a century are failing. The monsters are drawing closer, and someone is aiding them.
A unique take on Vampires, Shifters, Fae, & Other Magical Creatures. This is a spicy fantasy romance with love interests who don’t mind sharing. You can expect different types of relationships ranging from sweet and playful to enemies to lovers; set in a world full of monsters with a dark history.
Alex Frost is… actually Maddox Grey. Dun dun duuuuun! Okay probably not that dramatic of a reveal since it isn’t exactly a closely guarded secret. The pen name Alex Frost was created to publish the spicier fantasy series that fall under the “Why Choose” genre. Why Alex Frost? Because Maddox is a freaking nerd. After being trained by local baristas to respond to the name “Alex” instead of Maddox, it seemed like the perfect pen name. Half of it anyway. Since Maddox already shares their last name with Jean Grey of the X-Men, it seemed fitting to borrow Emma Frost’s last name for their other persona. If you know, you know.
SPOTLIGHT! A sinfully alluring cover The Devil’s Waltz by Jessi Elliot looks AMAZING! Be on the lookout for this beauty coming this February 27th, 2024!
Discover what happens when a young woman from a family of demon hunters falls in love with the prince of hell in this spicy paranormal romance.
The Devil’s Waltz (Love in Hell #1)
Expected Publication Date: February 27, 2024
Genre: Spicy Paranormal Romance
Features:
❤️🔥 Lovers to Enemies…to Lovers?
❤️🔥 Forbidden Romance
❤️🔥 Snarky Banter
❤️🔥 Mental Health Rep
❤️🔥 Angst
❤️🔥 Spiceeeee
It’s been five years since her sister was killed by a demon and Camille Morgan swore off the family business of demon hunting. Now a college sophomore, Cami is determined to get her degree and move far away from Seattle—and all things paranormal.
But when Cami becomes the target of a demon attack she’s convinced is a ploy by her parents to drag her back into training, the wildly charming and attractive Xander Kane comes to her rescue. Except her savior isn’t a hunter. Or even human.
Xander is a demon, the alluring prince of hell, whose magnetic presence leaves Cami both captivated and conflicted, especially when she finds out he plans on using her to destroy the demon hunters once and for all.
Caught between her growing affection for Xander and her loyalty to her family, Cami struggles to make a decision that could shatter her and endanger the lives of those she loves.
Jessi Elliott is a paranormal and fantasy romance author who lives in Ontario, Canada with her adorable calico cat, Phoebe.
When she’s not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with friends and family, get lost in a steamy romance novel, watch Friends, and drink coffee.
You can find Jessi at www.jessielliott.com and on social media @authorjessielliott. Join her newsletter to stay up to date on book news!
